Kennerley Shuzoku

2009-11-14T18:41:00.001-08:00

Received this in an email from my sister-in-law Lisa...to funny!
(to see it clearly just click on the picture)

Go For Broke

2009-11-11T14:53:00.001-08:00

My grandpa, Shigeru Oshita in the back with glasses on.

Because it's Veterans Day here in the States and because I have 2 grandpas who served in WWII, this day holds a lot of meaning for me. It especially means alot because I'm half Japanese and have a Japanese-American grandpa who had to fight a war that was started by Japan bombing Pearl Harbor. (Our family is from Hawaii so that too means alot.)

My grandpa Oshita served in the 100th Battallion of the 442nd Infantry. The motto of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was “go for broke.” It’s a gambling term that means risking everything on one great effort to win big. The soldiers of the 442nd needed to win big. They were Nisei - American-born sons of Japanese immigrants. They fought two wars: the Germans in Europe and the prejudice in America. The unit became the most highly decorated military unit in the history of the United States Armed Forces, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients, earning the nickname “The Purple Heart Battalion”. The unit’s exemplary service and many decorations did not change the attitudes of the general U.S. population to people of Japanese descent after World War II. Veterans were welcomed home by signs that read “No Japs Allowed” and “No Japs Wanted”, and many veterans were denied service in shops and restaurants, and had their homes and property vandalized. This attitude makes me even more proud of grandpa Oshita and Grandpa Grant (who served in the Navy). I'm so proud to be Japanese/American and so proud of all those who have served our Country and for fighting for our FREEDOM!

Their Unit's Fight Song...
Four-Forty-Second Infantry— We're the boys of Hawai'i nei— We'll fight for you And the Red, White and Blue, And go to the front... And back to Honolulu-lulu. Fighting for dear old Uncle Sam Go for broke! HOOH! We don't give a damn! We'll round up the Huns At the point of our guns, And vict'ry will be ours! GO FOR BROKE! FOUR-FOUR-TWO! GO FOR BROKE! FOUR-FOUR-TWO! And vict'ry will be ours!

Ahh, it's over!

2009-11-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

A must have Nutrition Book for all us mums with or without "fussy eaters"!

I was hit hard, really hard with that wretched flu that's goin around. Just as I was beginning to feel better another son would get sick and it'd start all over for me. But I'm on the mend now...got on the treadmill and cranked out a solid 40 minutes today! Once again I was reminded of the importance of eating as clean as I can and how much better I feel when I exercise. (Cause who knows, that flu could've lasted much longer or could've turned into something much worse!)

I just received the most fantastic Nutrition book by a blogging friend...Kate Di Prima. You must check her out here. She's A-MAZING...Author of a fantastic nutrition book, writes super informative blog and is just oh-so sweet...oh and did I mention she's Australia's leading dietician? Check out her website while you're at it too! here You'll LOVE it!

***I can't forget...thank you so much to my parents who helped me out in SO many ways while I was sick...I love my family! ;-D

"Let's get it started in here"

2009-10-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

I've gotta confess: Lately I just can't seem to give myself the same butt-kicking workouts that I give daily to others...why is that? I've lost my mojo...You know that movie "Stellas Got Her Groove Back"? Well, I've lost my groove...and I need it BACK now! I used to have the kind of self-discipline that even my husband was in awe of. Just gotta get back into my groove, and maybe a little extra Black Eyed Peas on my iPOD will do the trick! ;-D

In Another Life...

2009-10-19T14:52:00.001-07:00

picture from The Bottom of the Ironing Basket!

Quote from The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

In another life, I would love to have been a stylist! (just wasn't blessed with that talent in this life) In my blogging world, the blogs I look at most often are sharing either decorating ideas or fashion. One of the blogs I just discovered is brilliant! Fashionably Inspired will post an actress or model on her blog, then break down the outfit...and then you ready for this one?...you can click on a piece and order it for yourself right then and there!! I LOVE that! Check her out!

(Picture & Quote are from another favorite blog I just found: The Bottom of the Ironing Basket!!)

Sorry Edward, but I'm with Jacob now

2009-10-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Taylor Lautner aka JACOB
My own real-life "Jacob"!

Oh goodness, it's officially begun. I'm feeling the giddiness that I experienced this time last year. New Moon is coming out NEXT month and I am SO excited!

When I read the books the FIRST time, Edward was my man. Then I read them again, and by the third time (I know...pathetic) I realized I was hooked on Jacob. I won't bore you with the reasons why, just that Jacob reminds me of my own hubby Carl. He's strong, loves deeply and is just plain HOT, body temperature that is! (hehe, don't want to make any of my family, who may be reading this nauseous)

You Only Live Once

2009-09-28T16:48:00.001-07:00

YOLO=You Only Live Once

I LOVE IT!!

This is the board I want!

Pictures via CoastalLiving.com

(Coastal Living Mag/October 2009)

It's always a treat for me when I can spend an afternoon reading my Coastal Living Magazine! Today I was so excited when I saw that this months issue had a story on paddling! This last summer I mentioned to Carl that since we were a bit aways from the ocean, I'd like to take up paddling. I looked up this website and fell in love in an instant!

YOLO stands for You Only Live Once! How fantastic is that?!! I read all I could about this company and am so excited to save up for one of these beauties! Our whole family will enjoy it next summer...and the best bit? Not only is it FUN but it's also great exercise!! Check out what owner Brody Welte, Personal Trainer, Recreation Leader and Adventure Guide says about it:

"Stand up paddling is such a fun and useful tool to help out our country’s biggest health problem, being sedentary. Most people are a short drive from some form of water, whether it is the crystal clear blue waters of Hawaii and Florida, the chilly waters of the Great Lakes or your local river, lake or pond. There are very few “exercises” that are as all encompassing, full body, functional workout that are this much fun. Stand up paddling will open the door for people to live the healthy lifestyle that we need. If you have not tried stand up paddling you need to find out the about the fun you have been missing. It is a fantastic way to get started being active and being healthy."

So are you sold? I sure am...see you out in the water...Kristen

Saturday evening you'll find me here...

2009-09-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

I'm almost there...I can't wait for Saturday evening...

My speaking assignment is coming up this Saturday afternoon from 2-4 pm. I kid you not but at 4:15 pm I will be lying or is it laying (never could get that right) in bed doing one of 3 things: vegging out in front of the TV, reading my book Pemberley Manor, or flipping through my InStyle magazine. Whatever it is I wind up doing, I'll be doing it completely relaxed!

Isn't that hammock lovely?

My own personal heaven.

And I love the bedding!

How are you going to relax this weekend?

Are You Happy?

2009-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

(Image from Alicia States Photography)

About 10months ago my husband and I made a HUGE decision for our family. We decided that Carl would leave his high stress but well-paying job for a move to Oregon where the unemployment rate was one of the highest in the Nation! Why did we do this? We wanted to be closer to family and we needed him home more. You see, he would travel for weeks at a time and we hardly ever spent time with him.

So we're here in Oregon and loving it. It's been a very challenging year for our family but we're so much closer as the result of it. Carl and I have done our best to remain positive and have a good outlook. And to be honest, I wasn't sure I was succeeding until the Stake Relief Society President asked me to speak at our Women's Conference (which is this Saturday). She said she had been watching me the last several months and noticed that I always had a smile on my face. Knowing our families circumstances she wondered how it was that I always seemed happy.

I've thought about that a lot lately and my conclusion is this: What other choice do I have? Should I wallow in my self pity thinking my life is so much harder then everyone else's. Should I sink into a deep depression and just give up? Should I stop going to Church because life's so unfair. No way! For ME, that's just rubbish! SO many people have it way harder then me. This was just one hurdle in my life that I was going to clear! I've never been one to give up...I HATE that.

Around every challenge and hiccup we faced I looked for the positive in it...I won't lie...sometimes it really sucked! But I got over it and took it one day at a time. Putting a smile on my face even if inside I felt a little beat up...cause you know by the end of that day...I remembered all the things that I was grateful for!

The result of this last year: Carl started a new job this week (that seems too good to be true, which is why I can't even speak of it for fear it might disappear tomorrow) and I'll be DONE with my talk at the Womens Conference.

So, if you're reading this and your life kinda stinks right now, remember this:

"We do not remember days, we remember moments"

Try to be cheerful for a moment. Maybe you can't promise to be patient for the entire year your child is 2. That's alright. You can be patient for a moment, and then for another moment, and then maybe for the moment in between that links the first to moments. You can do it!

We're still learning...

2009-09-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Kruse Farms, OR
My little helpers

I think it's refreshing that my husband and I don't know EVERYTHING about each other! It keeps 'things' interesting and fresh. I LOVE flowers...fresh flowers. NOT the kind of flowers that you get from the gas station down the road, or outrageously priced flowers from the grocery store or the florist. I like the flowers that I can pick from a tree or bush and put behind my ear. Or the kind of flowers (like at Kruse Farms) where I bring a basket, pair of scissors and get a huge arm full of flowers for less then $3!

Saturday I took three willing helpers with me to pick some flowers. The flowers were beautiful. When I brought them home my husband looked at me kinda funny and this was the following conversation...

Carl: "Why did you pick flowers? You hate flowers."

Me: "What, are you crazy I LOVE FLOWERS!"

Carl: "No, you've always hated them, remember when I got them for you and you left them on top of the microwave and they died?"

Kristen, "Umm, that was like 14 years ago, when we were dating. I always loved the plumerias you picked for me that I wore in my hair."

Carl: "Oh, ok."

(He then goes back to playing his computer game without another thought.)

It's funny sometimes what husbands think we like or dislike. I love the story of my dad getting my mom a baseball handheld game for their anniversay cause he thought she'd like it, or when Carl got me a towel that would make my hair dry faster, along with a handheld sewing machine for my birthday...WHAT was he thinking?!

Oh well...maybe it's my fault...maybe I just need to knock him aside the head with more obvious hints of what I like...or maybe I'll just go on with life and enjoy this road we're on discovering new and wonderful things about eachother...

A Challenge...that I'll gladly accept!

2009-09-17T09:35:00.001-07:00

Hoping that my skin might look like this

(most likely touched up, and probably 18 yrs. old)

beautiful models skin!

;-D
Could this be the fountain of youth...?

There are a few blogs that I love to read everyday...their witty, hilarious, informative & just beautiful to look at. One of these blogs is Bella Mamma! She offers great advice & tips from beauty, health and everything in between. One of the products she is trying is the RoC Pack. It's a 12 week challenge PROMISING TO MAKE YOU LOOK 10 YEARS YOUNGER! So, I searched all over high and low for this product and I don't think it's offered here in the States! (or maybe they just call it something else) What I did find was the RoC Multi-Correxion Daily Perfecting System! Promises the same thing (but without the challenge) I'm gonna try it...am I hoping for a miracle?...yep! Realistically though, I'm just hoping for a brighter complexion & maybe for a few wrinkles to 'disappear'! So here goes...I'll let you know how it turns out in a couple of weeks...Oh yeah, and the best bit is you can get a $10 off coupon here!! C'mon who wouldn't like that?!

Kisses...I love them all

2009-09-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Mr. Darcy: "You must know... surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."

(Ohhh, a personal favorite!!)

Kissin in the rain

Kissin & not caring who sees you

The first kiss

Gilbert Blythe: "It'll be three years before I finish medical school. Even then there won't be any diamond sunbursts or marble halls."

Ann Shirley: "I don't want diamond sunbursts, or marble halls. I just want you."

Kissin after a long (or short) time apart!

Boys & Girls, the color of the day is...

2009-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

YELLOW!!

Which of these pictures inspire you the most today?

Wednesdays Pleasure

2009-09-09T09:48:00.001-07:00

There are days when lying around reading a good book is all I want to do...

MICHELLE...I just couldn't resist!!

2009-08-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it?

She ACTUALLY made the ottoman/coffee table and pillows!

Her e-n-t-r-y-w-a-y hall!!!!

Where her two handsome sons get to sleep...
doesn't it look like a page out of a Pottery Barn catalog?!

Just a 'little' project she took on!

What DON'T I love about this room?

I really, really want this room!

I just came across one of the most wonderful blogs I have seen in awhile! Michelle (a fellow BYU-Her) is married to a friend of ours and we had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times. It wasn't hard to miss how beautiful she was OR how sweet, however if I had known THEN just how talented she was...I may have had to FORCE or at the very least beg her to be my new BFF! Check out her amazing decor above (she actually did this herself and in a very thrifty manner, which I'm all about!) Hope you don't mind Michelle...but we are officially blogging buddies! ;-)

Don't miss out on her blog!

Vacation to beautiful Oregon Coast!

2009-08-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport,OR

This beach was beautiful and we had great weather!

Waiting patiently for dinner

We played in the water, threw the football, and ran races!

Florence, OR...what a great little beach town with some great shopping!

Hot Rod Restaurant. The boys got to sit in an actual 1950's car while

they ate dinner AND their kids meal came in a hot rod car box! It was too cool!

"How far do you think the swim is to Hawaii?"

A HUGE thank you to my mom and dad who took our family on a GREAT trip to the Oregon Coast! I couldn't believe how beautiful it was there! We had so much fun with them and the food was great! We can't wait to return!!!!

My Tuesday Favorites

2009-08-18T18:28:00.001-07:00

I love this outfit by jcrew minus the scarf...I can't really pull off the scarf look all that well. But I do LOVE the pants, belt and top!!

Okay, something about this outfit I just love! Of course the skirt would have to be a bit longer! ;-)

Guess what these sweats are called? Give up? Hollister calls themtheir "Awesome Butt Sweats". So are they promising me that my butt will look awesome if I put these suckers on? Cause if so, I'm running out the door right now to buy me a pair! :-)

I LOVE Benefits 'Bad gal Lash' Mascara...and yeah, I do feel pretty bad !@$ when I wear it...well not really,but I like to pretend that I am

My baby is gettin too big!

2009-08-08T10:47:00.001-07:00

Kaleo will be 5 in October and it's just hit me that I no longer have any babies!

What's YOUR favorite Beach Cottage Style?

2009-08-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

A-Frame with beautiful windows, a deck to lounge on and stairs leading to a kid-friendly, white sandy beach, covered with beautiful shells to keep you and your family busy for hours?

A secluded cottage for two. No cell phones or computers allowed. (could you handle it?) Beautiful trails and sea for fishing?

Adorable cottage for the family. Other cottages nearby where you and extended family could stay and enjoy watching everyone play together, prepare meals together, and appreciate 'family time'?

Spacious Cottage for large family. Beach just a short walk away. Canoes, swimming, fishing and local shopping all close by.

Which one would you choose right now if you could?!!

My favorite Fashion Magazine

2009-07-27T20:45:00.001-07:00

Dear Martha Stewart, If I could be a bit more like you, would my life run a little smoother?!

2009-07-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

I want this office space...I'm certain that if I worked in this space I'd be overflowing with creative ideas and perhaps become filthy rich in the process...

Hmmm... perhaps if I had a chore chart like this one, the children would be so eager to do their chores (or any chores for that matter) that I would find myself wandering about the house actually looking for something to do...!?

I just want to photoshop my head onto that ladies body...I want her dress, jacket, sandals, bag, bouquet of flowers and that adorable beach cottage...I even want that #3 house number...is that too much to ask? sheesh! ;-)
(all pictures from Martha Stewart Living)

What's Your Beach Style?

2009-07-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

"Resort Glam"

"Sailor Chic"

"Poolside Preppy"

"Boho Beachy"

Amazing, I have a spare moment...finished my workout for the morning, have one more client to train, boys are currently reading their library books...and so I thought I'd update my much neglected blog and escape to another world where I sit in the sun all day (sunscreen on of course) read a great book and drink some great fruity drink (non-alcoholic of course ;-) Actually, come to think of it, that's pretty much what I do almost everyday now that summers here...isn't life grand?!
So tell me, what's your beach style?

"Again"

2009-06-26T00:34:00.001-07:00

Ohhhh if this boy Alex ever comes out with a CD, I'll be the first to buy it! I LOVE HIS VOICE!!!

Haka: Please press PAUSE on our music playlist on leftof screen!

2009-06-23T11:26:00.001-07:00

Carl taught the boys the Haka and they were asked to perform it at the WIldlife Safari Park here in Oregon!

Lil Carls Kindergarten Graduation

2009-06-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Six years ago Carl and I FINALLY graduated from BYU-Hawaii and a few weeks BEFORE that, Little Carl was born!! We loved him from the moment he entered this world and we're so proud of him tonight! He performed like a real pro tonight at his Kindergarten graduation program (swaying hips and all), and was animated throughout it all. He brings such joy to our family and makes us laugh everyday! We love you heaps lil Carl!!!

Love, mummy and daddy